The Tubal Trade & Vocational Institute -it offers many at risk youths the opportunity to learn a trade, but tonight the school outside Ladyville is struggling to get back on its feet after burglars cleaned them out.
A group of thieves made off with over 40 grand in equipment and devices, after they ransacked the office building between last night and early this morning. Jomarie Lanza visited the school this morning to find the administrators in a state of shocked bewilderment and the school thrashed:
With school less than a week away from opening, the Tubal Trade and Vocational Institute was burglarized early this morning and three robbers got off with an undisclosed amount of cash, and a trove of equipment and devices. It leaves the administration with almost nothing to begin the school year with.
Shane Neal, PR Officer, Tubal Institute
"School was to start this coming Monday and because of the tools and stuff that are missing we have to push back, so..."
The burglary was discovered by the school's founder, Lyndon Bailey who found the front door open:
Shane Neal, PR Officer, Tubal Institute
"When my father in law went to because you know every morning he go and do his exercise and when he went to do his exercise and he came back or before that's when he realized that the door was open right he saw the door open and thought that the secretary was here but realized that it was too early and the secretary wasn't here because the front door was pushed the burglar bar was already opened up and the front door was pushed and he realized that something was not right. When he looked inside he also saw stuff was out of place, clothes on the floor the draws open and everything was out of place and that's when he realized that someone broke into the facility."
"Well when the officers came they checked and they agreed that yes the facility was broken into and when we assessed we realized that there were certain things that was supposed to be there missing because before we didn't notice what was missing but when we start checking to see what is there from what wasn't there we realized that several different items about over 40K worth of items is missing. Whatever it may be laptop tools the school has a nice PA system both speakers went and everything is missing you know."
Surveillance footage captures a trio of masked men entering the building and rummaging through the drawers and shelves in the main office. Despite having this footage Neal says that they may still have a hard time finding the culprits:
Shane Neal, PR Officer, Tubal Institute
"We know that we have cameras and the cameras pick up different individuals and that's what we are going by we are working with the cameras working with the police to see how best we can capture and see who is behind, but right now we cannot point out to say exactly who are the individuals but we pick them up on camera."
And now the institution must scramble to find all the necessary tools and equipment needed for students to start the new school year. In addition to repairing the damages done to property from the break in
Shane Neal, PR Officer, Tubal Institute
"It push us back it delay school a whole week because basically most or all of the tools that the school would use because the school relies heavily on tools you know for the students to use for each class and those are gone. So it will definitely impact the school in terms of the starting date and how to get back these tools."
"Well we are reaching out to the public and we are asking the public whatever way they could help I mean Tubal is here for 20 years or more and we have been working with people at risk young people helping them and for them to do the school like this it's wrong man it's definitely wrong because we are not here just to exist but we are here to work with those students who are underprivileged those who are not able to go to other facilities and that's why for them to do us like this it's wrong and so we are reaching out to the public to say whatever they can help us with Finance equipment whatever is possible we would appreciate it."
Those who wish to assist the institution can reach out to them at 613-2245
So far, no one has been detained.
